Website offers guide to leaf viewing

The U.S. Forest Service is promoting its fall foliage webpage, which features scenic drives and other areas in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests for visitors to enjoy this autumn.

To access the website, go to www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc and click on “Fall Foliage in the Mountains.” This link describes popular locations for viewing mountain plants at high, middle and low elevations during peak color season. For example, the Big Butt trail in the Mount Mitchell area of Yancey County allows travelers to enjoy a variety of colorful, high-elevation plants in late September and early October. Other sites in the Western North Carolina national forests are better suited for later in the season.

With fall foliage season here, the website offers a useful tool for vacation planning and for local residents looking to discover new areas to visit.